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Technology sharing and tacit collusion

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  • Levy, Nadav

Abstract

I study the prospects for collusion between rival firms that share technological know-how. Two common forms of technology sharing are compared: a research joint venture (RJV) and licensing. Under licensing, firms can use the licensing fee to elicit higher levels of R&D than with an RJV. However, firms must also be induced to license innovations ex post. For a broad set of cases, licensing yields higher collusive profits to firms and higher prices to consumers. In other cases, licensing can only be induced through a very high license fee, leading to excessive R&D and lower profits. In these cases, the colluding firms prefer to share technology through an RJV.

Suggested Citation

  • Levy, Nadav, 2012. "Technology sharing and tacit collusion," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 204-216.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:30:y:2012:i:2:p:204-216
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2011.09.002
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    2. Bourreau, Marc & Cambini, Carlo & Hoernig, Steffen, 2018. "Cooperative investment, access, and uncertainty," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 78-106.
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    4. Neelanjan Sen & Priyansh Minocha & Arghya Dutta, 2023. "Technology licensing and collusion," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 19(3), pages 694-752, September.
    5. Lindblom Ted & Mallios Aineas & Sjögren Stefan, 2024. "A Theoretical Analysis of Collusion Involving Technology Licensing Under Diseconomies of Scale," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 24(1), pages 263-297, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Collusion; Technology sharing; Research joint ventures; Licensing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures
    • L40 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - General

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